Reflection for Tuesday December 16, 1st day of Misa de Gallo (Simbang Gabi): John 5:33-36

Gospel: John 5:33-36

(Jesus said to the Jews) You sent emissaries to John and he testified to the truth. I do not accept testimony from a human being but I say this so that you may be saved. 

He was a burning and shining lamp and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.   

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Reflection:

Today, we begin the sacred journey of Misa de Gallo, or Simbang Gabi. As we enter these nine days of novena Masses, we are invited not only to rise early and attend, but more importantly, to prepare our hearts to be worthy of the coming birth of our Savior. This preparation calls us to an interior renewal—a quiet yet powerful transformation within us.

We renew ourselves when we choose reconciliation over resentment, forgiveness over bitterness, and simplicity over excess. We are renewed when we refuse to be consumed by the material side of Christmas and instead fix our gaze on its true essence—the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Like John the Baptist, we are called to give witness to Jesus by the way we speak and live. John humbly called people to repentance and renewal because he was sent by God to prepare the way of the Lord. As we journey through this Advent season, we too must ask ourselves: are we doing something to prepare the way for the coming birth of Christ in our lives and in our homes?

As parents, family members, and members of the Christian community, we carry a sacred responsibility. Are we teaching our children that Christmas is not about the gifts they receive nor the image of Santa Claus, but about Jesus, our Savior? Are we pointing them toward the deeper joy that comes not from possessions, but from His presence?

Slowly but surely, we see how the true meaning of Christmas is being overshadowed by materialism and commercialism. Yet, in our own small and quiet ways, we can be like John. We can gently but courageously remind others of the true reason for this season—no other than the birth of Jesus.

As we admire the glittering lights, enjoy the abundance of food, and exchange gifts, let us pause and reflect: are these drawing us closer to Christ, or slowly replacing Him in our hearts? This Advent, will we choose to prepare the way of the Lord—not just in our traditions, but in our lives? – Marino J. Dasmarinas